Weekly Opinion Editorial
SERVITUDE TO THE GOVERNMENT!
by Steve Fair
Does civic engagement or political involvement
really make a difference? Do elected officials
(at any level) listen to the average citizen or do they heed only their close
advisors and/or their donor base? Is the
U.S. political system driven purely by money? What is the function of a political Party? These are frequently asked questions. Let’s briefly examine each.
First, being involved in civic life does
make a difference. Engaging in politics
can mean different things to different people.
It can run the spectrum from watching political news shows, studying
political science, voting, becoming a candidate for office, volunteering on a
political campaign, to having a career in consulting, strategy or public
relations. Political activists, no
matter their Party affiliation, who have been engaged for years move the needle. They have established a track record of
staying engaged and elected officials usually don’t ignore them.
Second, elected officials listen to those
who hold them accountable. That starts
with citizens showing up, whether it’s a town hall meeting, campaign event or a
public appearance. The world is run by
those that show up.
Elected officials should be delighted,
elated, and ecstatic to respectfully explain a vote or position on an issue to
their constituency. It is logical elected
officials listen to those who help them get elected (donors/campaign advisors),
but constituents who challenge elected official’s votes and positions are hard
to ignore. Without accountability from
an informed constituency, elected officials can become intelligently lazy, unconcerned
and complacent.
Third, money is the mother’s milk of
politics. Political campaigns, at all
levels, cost an incredible amount of money.
Few candidates can self-fund, so they by necessity solicit donations
from individuals, industry associations, and advocacy groups to pay for their
campaign. Virtually every campaign contribution
comes with ‘strings,’ whether the candidate recognizes it or not. Those big donors expect the candidate, when
elected, to listen to them- and they do or they don’t get a second check. All donors are not corrupt and they have the
right to lobby an elected official, same as other citizens. Sadly, sometimes elected officials forget they
represent an entire constituency/district, not just those who donated to their
campaign or voted for them.
Fourth, a political Party provides infrastructure
for candidates. Elected officials sometimes say they don’t
believe their Party does anything for them.
That is simply not true. The
Party provides a ‘brand,’ an ‘identity’ for a candidate. If a candidate/elected official truly believes
a Party doesn’t do anything for them, perhaps they should run as an Independent
the next time they file for office. Having
the Party label helps a candidate- it gets them the base vote.
Sadly, political Parties are often
maligned and attacked by those not involved in Party politics. Long term political Party volunteers
unselfishly give of their time, talent and treasure, not because of the glamorous,
alluring nature of the job. They stay involved
because they care about the cause. They
should be respected and commended for their faithfulness, not attacked, criticized
and belittled by those who just woke up from their apathic deep sleep, decided
to get involved and blame all the problems with politics on those who have been
involved longer than fifteen minutes.
Vigilance is the action or state of
keeping careful watch for possible damage or difficulties. The vigilant are alert and attentive for an
extended period of time. John Philpot Curran said, “The condition upon which
God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he
break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of
his guilt.” Sadly, the scarcity of vigilance
by everyday Americans to be involved in their own government has placed them in
servitude to that government.
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